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Thomas Keller is Selling The French Laundry Kitchen

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Last year we brought you the news about how Thomas Keller at his French Laundry restaurant had built himself a clever temporary kitchen to give the team space during a refurbishment.

Now, it seems the new kitchen inside the restaurant is finally ready and Keller is planning to sell off the temporary kitchen to the highest bidder.

In a post on Facebook, the chef said: “As of today, this kitchen, the fourth in the restaurant’s history, is officially for sale…To the new owner: This kitchen is a unique piece of culinary history. It touched the lives of many guests and played a significant role in the lives of the chefs who have spent time working here before moving on to their own projects. My hope is that it finds a home where it continues to impact the lives of those who walk through its door.”

The four shipping containers that house the kitchen hit 1120 square feet and come fitted with all the mod cons one would expect from a three-star kitchen. On top of this Keller explained that the space will also come with the chef’s famous five brass stars above the pass, a‘Sense of Urgency’ plaque and a blue apron.

The time has come for us to find a new home for The French Laundry’s temporary kitchen. As of today, this kitchen, the fourth in the restaurant’s history, is officially for sale.With the help of our partners envelope Architecture and Design and kitchen designer Tim Harrison, I designed the temporary kitchen to use while The French Laundry was being remodeled, so the restaurant could stay open during much of the construction. Made from four custom-built shipping containers totaling 1120 square feet, and including all of the equipment the restaurant has used during the past 10 years, the kitchen also includes such iconic details as the five brass stars above the pass, the “Sense of Urgency” plaque, a blue apron and green tape.This kitchen holds a lot of sentimental value, not just for me, but for the restaurant and our entire team, who have prepared food in it, passed between it and the dining room countless times, and washed dishes here, keeping it orderly and clean. This kitchen, which has made so many memories and fed so many, it will now help to feed others, as a portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit Edible Schoolyard NYC.To the new owner: This kitchen is a unique piece of culinary history. It touched the lives of many guests and played a significant role in the lives of the chefs who have spent time working here before moving on to their own projects. My hope is that it finds a home where it continues to impact the lives of those who walk through its door.For more information, interested parties may contact tempkitchen@frenchlaundry.com.Happy Bidding!